Have had the nod from "Twickers Chic", that she now needs to put her Dad's 2.8i Special up for sale.. Condition hasn't changed that much since those who know it last clapped eyes on it, body work does have a couple of scabs, but in general, the paint is in very good order. Mechanically the engine is sound, has done 97k since new, AND is a one owner from new car. The Alloy's are in v good condition, having been diamond cut & polished not too long ago. Its also had new decals on the boot, & new side stripes too. Tyres have plenty of tread, as does the spare. New front bumper, not original, & front indicators. The LSD does have a whine, I've changed the oil in it & fitted a new gasket, & its a bit better than it was, although not really serious. The half leather seats have been repaired, well the drivers bolster has been, & are in good condition, with no rips. The standard exhaust is blowing around one of the rear silencers, but really would benefit from a Janspeed system..! Parcel shelf is new from CCI, new boot carpet & spare wheel cover. It has a K/N air filter, strut brace & one & a half inch lowering blocks on the rear. All in all, a good honest standard car that hasn't been mucked about with.

No tax (SORN) or MOT, as its not been used for some time, but I can put a new battery on it to get it running.

Would really like it to go to a good home, someone who will look after it as I have, & in the mark's 40th year!

Looking for £1850.00, ono.


Car is now sold.. its going to a very good home...!!

IT'S GOING TOMORROW.........

Can't you buy it? It would get you back into Capri World.

Shame it's got to go matey.
Let's hope it finds a caring owner, good luck with the sale.

Would like to Mags, a) don't have the money, b) nowhere to keep it, c) Twickers Chic doesn't want me to have it anyhoo...!

How about i buy it - and sell it to you
Mate, i was only thinking about you yesterday and wondering how things were and bon de flop there you are..freeeaakkkyy

I'm fine.. that is spooky.. I'll fill you all in next time we meet up.. it is regretable that it does have to go, & in all seriousness I really would have nowhere to keep it darn in the coun'ry, & will have to rent a lock up for it, & these days my life is pretty full as it is..& there is a remote posibility that we may sample life down under in the not to distant future too... but thats a way off yet...

Nice to hear from you Nick

Shame that Mirror Finish has to go
Hope it goes to a good home

Glad you found a buyer for Mirror Finish.

I've been in touch with Pete from the East Grinstead Capri Club, he said it was definitely worth the two and a half trip up from the South Coast to view your Capri.
He has a few plans / mods to make it his 'own', at least it's gone to a Capri enthusiast.
I expect we will see it at a show or two during the summer.

I'm glad its going to a good home too..!

He's already told me his plans, the interior from his blue one will be swapped, as will the wheels, rear springs, & possibly the rear axle too...! Oh to have storage space/garage..............

If you do see it around, make sure to take some pic's.. I've asked Pete to take a few as he's tarting it up..

Hi All!!

As this car was so well known and Kev put me onto it when my 2.8i got written off (it will rise again!!) I thought I'd update you on the progress of Nicks old 2.8i.

So far its lived int he workshop for a while and we've had to (in no order) replace/ do/ sort/ fix...:

The heater blower (Bosch unit £46 from Camberley Auto Hove)
Fitted refurbed standard back axle while the LSD is bebuilt
Fit back boxes
Adjusted valves
Cleaned rocker covers
Strip & clean injection system
Clean out air distributor
Repalced rear wash motor
Got front washers working - was the column stalk causing the problem
Fit new electric aerial
Tailgate catch resetting
Full service
Engine tune up
Tappets adjusted up
Fitted new auxiliary air valve
New front wheel bearings
All rear light bulbs replaced
N/S headlamp repositioned
H/brake adjusters changed
Change gearbox oil
Fit replacement rear wiper motor
Fitted uncracked dash top
Renewed all brake linings and some pipes
MOT

Left to do mechanically is fit a new temp sender, sort a couple of electrical gremlins, swap the wheels from my other 2.8i, sort the air lock in the cooling system & get the tracking and balancing done. When the LSD axle is rebuilt we'll swap them over and fit a set of proper 2.8i springs at the same time. Nick nor myself know what the springs are on it, though it handles and sits OK.

The car drives REALLY nicely, very smooth and responsive, handles well and the gearbox is sweet. While many of the things which needed changing were down to the car being parked up outside for so long, credit goes to Nick for looking after it and latterly Greg, an East Grinstead CC member, who has done most of the work as he has the time and facilities, so credit to him!

With the mechanics finished off I'll change the interior. The body will be the last thing to takle and I'll try and get Stuart of Restore-A-Ford to sort the few rust aeas and paint. Apart from the Brooky wheels and sonic rear shelf, its staying standard as I think thats the way to go on Capris now unles they were basket cases and needed tons of work, so customise those cars and leave the good ones original.

Hope you appriecate the update and I'll update you again as and when the car has more work done to it. But its on the road now with most things working and I'll certianly be at the shows in it this year!! Who knows Nick, you might buy it back one day mate!!

Pete....

Wow Pete. Yep this motor has been around for some time and i for one am chuffed to see it's being very well taken care of. I can see a lot of works been done already - but in mentioning that it's going to Restore A Ford is enough in itself. The mecca of guardians for the blue oval

Cheers Burt,

I dropped the LSD axle off at a friends on Sturday who will get it rebuilt by the bod who did his so confident it'll be fine.

That'll be back in May and I'll refurb the casing, fit new linings, fit some polybushsed standard powdercoated springs and new bolts, U bolt set and antiroll bar which have all been powdercoated. While I'm under there, I'll change the tank straps for powdercoated ones and new tank bolts, oh and dropt the tank and get that refinished as well.

This'll smarten up the back end for the next few years hopefully!

Stu is well busy at the mo and has many jobs booked in, this is why he has moved to a larger workshop and I think taken a guy on to help get through the work.

I do think if this car had been left much longer, many people would have broken it for spares. Not me!!

I'll update later when the works been done. However, its first show will be near Reading on 24th April and then Eastbourne on May 1st and 2nd at the magnificent motors show - well worth a visit!!

Pete....

Jeez Pete, I honestly didn't know that much needed doing....!!

Seriously tho, I knew about the odd bits & pieces as I told you when we met to see it. If only I had the time & space (& money!) to carry out all the work, it would have all got sorted eventually. I had the tappetts done at Mercury in twickenham not long ago.. must have been an apprentice..

Get some pics up here pronto please, in case I don't get chance to get to a show.. if I did, it would probably bring back to many memories..!

Glad its being so well looked after

Ay mate good to hear from you - see, said i'd look after it!
No worries, you don't buy a 25yr old Ford and expect to find all is well. Like most things really, the more you poke about the more you find - its certainly a car worth working on though.

Actually, I'm trying to find out how many early 2.8i Spceials there are left. This one was registered on 8th October 84 and from what I can tell, the Specials were available from 1st October 84. Anyone know if the DVLA could give out that info? Could this be the earliest surviving Special??

Dunno about the early special info - but dag nabbit i just love hearing and seeing old classics back on the road in any shape and the comment 'the more you poke around the more you find' is sooooo true. Just wished i could keep my mince pies closed when going to the garage of my house where my beloved is domiciled. Every time i poke it costs me money and labour, but then if i didn't do it i would only go and buy another one in a similar (well better actually) state than mine so i could poke around again. I love my car!